Traineeships
Research Trainees join a live project of the Institute and take responsibility for a defined piece of analytical work. Since May 2026 Research Trainees have coded sources for the 61 Peace Definitions Review. This systematic review, under way, examines how 61 peace concepts are defined across 117 sources. The concepts were identified by Martel and colleagues in a 2024 review in International Studies Review. The review gathers the evidence from which the Institute identifies the common ground that definitions of peace share. Research Trainees read each source, record how its author defines the peace concept in question and check that the defining quotation is accurate. Each record is coded independently by three Research Trainees. Their coding feeds the 61 Peace Definitions Review, a paper in preparation.
Traineeships are unpaid, remote and part-time. Each Research Trainee agrees a schedule with the Director, who supervises the work. In summer 2026 they agreed their own hours, from 5 to 42 a week. Research Trainees sign a traineeship agreement for a fixed period before they begin. Candidates are students or recent graduates in political science, international relations, peace and conflict studies, law, philosophy, development studies or a related field; prior research experience is not required.
Calls are announced on the Careers and vacancies page with a closing date. No traineeship call is open at present.
Our Research Trainees
Since 2025, 19 people have taken part in the Institute’s research traineeships. They are listed, with the comments some of them gave on their traineeships, on Our people.
Supervision and conditions
Every Research Trainee works under the supervision of the Director. Research Trainees sign a traineeship agreement and follow the written coding method of the project they join. Research Trainees take part remotely, from any country.